Price v Thompson - round-by-round coverage of Liverpool giant's bid for revenge against the veteran American

David Price is spending his 30th birthday seeking redemption for the shock knockout which has threatened to derail his quest to become Britain's next world heavyweight champion.

The Liverpool giant was floored in the second round of his Febr uary fight with American veteran Tony Thompson, the first loss of his career.

Price was taking the dangerous option of going straight back in with the 41-year-old Thompson in a bid to erase that upset.

There was another big crowd at the Liverpool Echo Arena hoping to see an equally dramatic reversal of fortunes.

So sit back and enjoy our coverage of what promises to be an explosive bout on Merseyside...

ROUND FIVE: THOMPSON WINS

The fifth bought disaster for Price as Thompson's lightning struck for the second time in five months.

Price's chin held up, of sorts, under constant heavy hitting from the American but this time nothing could save him, not even the referee, Mr Marcus McDonnell, who did his best to stave off the stoppage by starting an eight count with Price on his feet and slumped against the corner post.

But as the British and Commonwealth champion showed no real sign of recovery he waved it off with the bell still one minute and five seconds distant.

You won't find answers up there: David Price was beaten by Tony Thompson for the second time

ROUND FOUR: Price was again the aggressor at the start of the fourth but Thompson rode with the blows and came back to unleash a barrage in the closing minute, and this time it was Price who was glad to hear the bell. Oddly both men were already looking weary at times.

JEFF POWELL'S SCORE: 9-10

ROUND THREE: Thompson was caught by another of Price's trademark rights and as he fell backwards, only the ropes spared him another count. More heavy punishment followed but the American rallied enough to test that much-examined chin of the home favourite with a couple of retaliatory blows of his own. Lewis was on his feet near the Price corner urging his man to go for the finish.

JEFF POWELL'S SCORE: 10-9

ROUND TWO: Price was much more aggressive right from the bell for the second and threw over three bit hits to wobble Thompson, who then went down from a push.

The American's to the canvass was the consequence of a clubbing right from Price. He barely beat the count but was saved by the bell.

JEFF POWELL'S SCORE: 10-8

ROUND ONE: Price, with the memory of that huge right-hander still fresh in his mind, opened warily while Thompson looked at home. But as the round neared its end the Englishman started to settle into his task, landing a couple of rights of his own.

JEFF POWELL'S SCORE: 10-10

Home boy: Price entered to a stunning rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, supported by Lennox Lewis

22:45: Welcome to the Echo arena, a truly electric atmosphere here.

Home favourite David Price was preceded into the ring by a saxophonist, drummers from the Second Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's regiment, and his mentor during the last two months ahead of this high-risk return, former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

His own entry was also supported by Lewis and accompanied by a mass rendition of the Liverpool anthem You'll Never Walk Alone.

Revenge: David Price is desperate to get his world title hopes back on track with victory over Tony Thompson